NHTSA Complaint #10416408 — 2010 FORD TAURUS

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT IN EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING. THERE WAS TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL : ENGINE NOT RUNNING AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND LIGHTING WENT OFF. ONLY MANUAL STEERING WAS AVAILABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE EXPRESSWAY SHOULDER .THE ALERT ACTIONS OF THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME DID PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. INSTRUMENT PANEL MESSAGE STATED "SHIFT INTO PARK"' WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THIS ACTION WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY IN PARK. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS DURING THE REST OF THE TRIP. THE VEHICLE HAS A PUSH BUTTON START. BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO START THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK. RESTARTING THIS MOVING VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WOULD HAVE SLOWED THE MOMENTUM REQUIRED TO SAFELY BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOUND NO COMPUTER CODES. ADVICE FROM THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS " DRIVE OR TRADE THE VEHICLE". THE MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY". *TR